Device for collecting fruit

ABSTRACT

A flexible baffle to retard the speed of fruit as they fall into a storage bin or the like to prevent damage to the fruit, the baffle being adjustable upwardly as the fruit collects near its lower extremities. The device includes a gate to block the travel of the fruit in a delivery chute when the adjustable baffle is in its upward-most position to aid in the replacement of a full storage bin with an empty one.

United States Patent 1 91 Thornton et a1,

[54] DEVICE FOR COLLECTING FRUIT [75] Inventors: Francis J. Thornton, Ontario; Welton C. Westfall, Riverside, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Sunkist Growers, Inc., Sherman Oaks, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 31, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 103,270

52 Us. (:1. ..193 7, 193/15, 193/21, 193/25 R, 193/27, 193/32 [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 11/08, B65g11/12, 865g 11/18 [58] Field of Search ..193/3, 7,15,17-21, 193/25 R, 32, 25 A, 25 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,590,981 7/1971 Adrian ..193/7 X 2,925,162 2/1960 De Tuncq.... ..193'/7 1,881,003 10/1932 Wallace ..l93/17 1,309,119 7/1919 Dillon ..193/27 X 2,693,264 11/1954 Waterbury ..193/7 1 May 15,1973

778,306 12/1904 Cook ..193/18 2,028,297 H1936 Stockdale ..l93/32 2,312,450 I 3/1943 Smith ..193/32 X 1,839,494 1/1932 Pardee... ..193/27 X 1,008,684 11/1911 White ..'....l93/27 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5,111 4/1916 Great Britain ..193/20 1,440,191 4/1966 France ..l93/32 92,210 5/1964 France ..193/27 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-W. ScottCarsgn Attorney- William Quarles, Jr. and Michael J.

McDonald 57 ABSTRACT A flexible baffle to retard the speed of fruit as they fall into a storage bin or the like to prevent damage to the 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,732,961

sum u or 4 ATTOZ/VEV 1 DEVICE FOR COLLECTING FRUIT It is the practice in fresh fruit packing houses to convey fruit from point to point by belt conveyors and the like. When the fruit reaches the intended point, it is di rected from the conveyors into inclined chutes down which it rolls by force of gravity to a point at the lower end of the chutes from where it falls into a large storage bin or the like. Often these storage bins are 4 feet square and approximately 3 feet high. Since the end of the chute down which the fruit must travel terminates at a point above the storage bin, the fruit sometimes falls as far as 4 feet into an empty bin, often causing damage to the fruit. As the bin fills with fruit, the drop is a lesser distance, however the fruit is still damaged by the fall from time to time.

One of the objects of my invention is to retard the speed of the fruit as it falls from the chute and provide a minimaldrop into a storage bin.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable means for retarding the speed of the fruit such that it may be selectively positioned relative to fruit in a storage bin as the bin fills.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for blocking the fruit in a gravity chute to facilitate removal of a storage bin filled with fruit and replacement of it with an empty one.

These and other objects of my invention are achieved in the preferred embodiment of it by providing an arcuate flexible baffle which catches the fruit as it falls from a gravity conveyor chute or the like thus momentarily stopping it and allowing it to roll to the lower terminal end of the baffle where it falls a short distance into a storage bin or the like. As the fruit collects in the storage bin or on a storage surface, means are provided whereby the arcuate baffle may be selectively adjusted upwardly such that its lower end remainsslightly above the fruit in the bin. A short extension for the conveyor chute may be connected to the baffle to be abutted against a conveyor chute and to direct the flow of fruit into the baffle. A plurality of fingers connected to the baffle adjustment means protrude through slots in the chute extension to block the flow of fruit in the chute when the baffle is in its upward-most position such that a full storage bin may be replaced with an empty one without fruit falling from the chute.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and mode of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention showing the arcuate baffle in its lower-most position within a storage bin, with one side of the storage bin cut away to show the baffle;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my invention showing the arcuate baffle in its lower-most position within a storage bin;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of my invention showing the arcuate baffle in its lower-most position and the storage bin in section;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of my invention taken in the direction of lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of my invention with the arcuate baffle in an intermediate position;

FIG. 6 isaside elevation view of my invention with the arcuate baffle in itsupper-most positionand the finger-type gateblocking the-flowof fruit inthe'chute extension;

, FIG. 7is across-sectional view taken'inthe direction of lines 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is aperspective view of the arcuate baffle; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the arcuate baffle.

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention'is shown in position to catch freshfruit orother easily injurable articles and drop them softlyinto storage bin20or other storage surface to minimize damage to the fruit. The invention basically comprisesarcuate baffle 21 to be positioned in the path of falling fruit in order to break the fall of the fruit as it falls from chute extension 50 and allow it to drop softly into bin20. In FIG. 1, bin 20 has been partially cut away to show the lower reaches of the arcuate baffle.

Arcuate baffle 21 includes a flexible fabric 22 such as canvas, nylon or the like stretched between and connected to a pair of arcuate baffle support members 24. The upperend of fabric 22 may be connected by staples or the like to cross brace 23wlhich is connected at each end to the baffle support members 24 by welding or the like. Baffle support members 24" are integrally connected to a pair of spaced parallel radial arms 29 which are in turn connected to a". pair of rachet plates 30 by welding or the like.

Rachet plates 30 are keyed to a rotatable shaft 32 which in turn is rotatably mounted to theframe member 34 at 35 (see FIG. 4*). The arcuate rachet plates 30 include teeth 33 in. their outer periphery. The ratchet plates are mounted on shaft 32" such that each of the teeth 33 are equal distance from shaft 32". Arcuate baffle 21 will therefore be raisedor lowered as shaft 32 rotates about its axis.

Each leg of U-shaped baffle release handle 35 is slidably mounted within frame members36 and 38 respectively which guide the travel of the legs. Shoulders 39 (see FIG. 2) on the end of each leg of the baffle release rod governs the length of travel of the rod within the frame. Each leg of the U-shaped handle release rod 35 also includes a shoulder40. Springs 41 are mounted between shoulders 40 and frame members 36 to continuously bias pins 42, which project from each leg of U- shaped baffle release handle 35, into contact with teeth 33 of ratchet plates 30.

As bin 20 fills with fruit the arcuate baffle 21 may be manually grasped and raised to selectively higher positions such as that of FIG. 5 where it will be held by the cooperation of pins 42 and the teeth of ratchet plate 30. The number of teeth on the ratchet plates and their location govern the number of positions and their relative placement available for the baffle. As the fruit begins to pile-up in the bin, placing the arcuate baffle in the selectively higher positions will result in each fruit dropping a relatively short distance from the end of the baffle onto the pile thus minimizing fruit damage.

Once the baffle, reaches its upper-most position as shown in FIG. 6, a full bin may then be removed and replaced with an empty one. The baffle may then be dropped into its lower-most position preparatory to repeating the process by manually pulling outwardly on handle release rod 35 thus disengaging pin 42 from ratchet plate teeth 33. The baffle will then fall to its lowermost position. The fall may be dampened if desired by mounting one end of an air cylinder 44 to the frame as at 45 and the other end to crank arm 46 which is in turn keyed to shaft 32. Thus, as the arcuate bafile falls into the empty bin, its speed will be retarded by the action of the air cylinder arm pushing against crank arm 46 thus slowing the speed of revolution of shaft 32 and the rate of fall of the arcuate baffle member. A rest 72 of rubber or the like may be installed on bracket 71 (see FIG. 7) to cushion arms 29 when the baffle is in its lower-most position.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, chute extension 50 is mounted to frame member 51 (see FIG. 6) by any appropriate means such as bolts and the like. Frame member 51 is connected to frame member 70 by bracket 71. Chute extension 50 is provided with a plurality of slots 52 in its wearing surface 54 for a reason to be hereinafter described. Shaft 55 is fixedly mounted between ratchet plates 55 parallel to and spaced from shaft 32. Shaft 55 is provided with a plurality of fingers 56 (see FIG. 4) which are fixedly mounted thereto by welding or the like and project outwardly normally therefrom. It will be seen from FIG. 6 that fingers 56 on shaft 55 protrude through slots 52 in chute 50 to provide a gate to block the fruit 57 from flowing in the chute when the arcuate baffle is in its upper-most position. Thus, if fruit is freely flowing through the chute it can be held up while a full bin is replaced by an empty one.

Apron 25 may be installed on the arcuate baffle as an additional speed retardant. It consists basically of a length of flexible fabric connected at opposite ends to arcuate baffle support members 24 such that it has an open mouth 26 at its upper extremity (see FIG. 8) and a open mouth 28 at its lower extremity. Thus, when fruit falls into the open mouth 26, its speed will be diminished by its contact with arcuate baffle 22. The frictional engagement of the fruit between apron 25 and baffle fabric 22 will keep the fruit from building up injurious speed as it rolls down the baffle into the bin. When apron 25 is utilized, it is desireable to hold the mouth 26 of the apron open by connecting the upper periphery of the apron to apron support arms 31 which depend from parallel radial arms 29. It will be noted, that the fruit only passes between apron 25 and baffle fabric 22 when the fruit is in its lower-most position. Once the level of the fruit in the bin is raised enough to position the baffle upwardly of its lower-most position, it has been found that the fruit will not gain sufficient speed during its fall from contact with the baffle into the bin that its necessary it pass through the apron. The front surface 37 of the apron will then act as the baffle surface.

Therefore, when it is desired to fill an empty bin with fruit, the subject invention is positioned such that the chute extension abuts the known fruit gravity transfer chutes. With the arcuate baffle in its lower-most position, fruit is allowed to flow down the chute and through the chute extension where it falls into contact with flexible baffle 22. The angle of the arcuate baffle is such that the fruit momentarily stops when it strikes the flexible fabric. It then rolls down the surface of the flexible baffle fabric where it drops softly into the bottom of bin 20. Oft times it is desireable to provide apron 25 such that particularly damageable fruit will not build up a high rate of speed as it rolls down the arcuate baffle. This may be unnecessary however, depending upon the particular articles being collected and a baffle such as that of FIG. 9 may be utilized. As the fruit builds up in the bottom of the bin, the arcuate baffle may be selectively positioned upward in incremental steps merely by manually grasping the baffle and raising it upwardly until pin 42 slips beneath the next lower tooth in ratchet plates 30. When the bin is completely filled and the arcuate baffle is in its uppermost position, fingers 56 on the shaft 55 protrude through slots 52 in chute extension 50 to block the fruit freely flowing in the chute. The full bin may then be removed and replaced with an empty one. At that point, baffle release rod 35 is manually pulled outwardly such that pin 42 is no longer an engagement with teeth 33 in the ratchet plates thus allowing the baffle to fall to its lower-most position within the empty bin preparatory to repeating the process. Air cylinder 44 connected between crank arm 46 and the frame of the apparatus will slow the fall of the arcuate baffle.

While the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is particularly designed for use in connection with fruit, it will be realized that the invention is adaptable for use in connection with various other commodities without modification of the principles of the invention. My description is specific detail of the selected embodiments of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosures.

I claim:

1. A device for retarding the speed of freely falling articles, comprising:

a. a frame;

b. flexible baffle means connected to said frame, said flexible baffle means adapted to be positioned in the path of the articles and near a storage surface such that the articles will strike said baffle means and drop softly to a storage surface;

c. means for adjusting the height of said flexible baffle means as the articles pile up on the storage surface;

d. a shaft mounted for rotation in said frame;

e. a pair of ratchet plates having teeth in their outer peripheries, each said ratchet plate fixedly connected to one end of said rotatable shaft;

f. at least one baffle support arm connected at one end to said flexible baffle means and at the other to one of said ratchet plates whereby said flexible baffle means will be raised and lowered as said shaft rotates about its axis;

g. stop means cooperating with said teeth in said ratchet plates to hold said baffle in selected positions;

h. chute means connected to said frame, said chute means having a wearing surface over which said articles roll to direct said articles into said flexible baffle means;

. at least one opening in the wearing surface of said chute means;

j. a second shaft fixedly mounted between said ratchet plates, said second shaft being spaced from said rotatable shaft; and

k. gate means connected to said second shaft, said gate means adapted to extend through the opening in the wearing surface of said chute when said baffle means is in an upward position.

2. A device for retarding the speed of freely falling articles, comprising:

a. a frame;

b. flexible baffle means connected to said frame, said flexible baffle means adapted to be positioned in the path of the articles and near a storage surface such that the articles will strike said baffle means and drop softly to a storage surface;

0. means for adjusting the height of said flexible baffle means as the articles pile up on the storage surface;

d. a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame;

e. a ratchet plate having teeth in its outer periphery,

said ratchet plate fixedly connected to said rotatable shaft; 1

f. at least one baffle support arm connected at one end to said flexible baffle means and at the other to said ratchet plate whereby said flexible baffle means will be raised and lowered as said shaft rotates about its axis;

g. stop means cooperating with said teeth in said ratchet plate to hold said baffle in selected positions;

h. chute means connected to said frame, said chute means having a wearing surface over which the articles roll to direct said articles into said flexible baffle means;

. at least one opening in the wearing surface of said chute means;

j. a second shaft fixedly mounted to said ratchet plate, said second shaft being spaced from said rtatable shaft; and

k. gate means connected to said second shaft, said gate means adapted to extend through the opening in the wearing surface of said chute when said baffie means is in an upward position.

3. A device for retarding the speed of freely falling articles, comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame;

0. flexible baffle means adapted to be positioned in the path of the articles and near a storage surface such that the articles will strike said baffle means and drop softly to the storage surface;

(1. a baffle support arm fixedly connected at one end to said rotatable shaft and at the other end to said flexible baffle means such that said flexible baffle means is spaced from said shaft and rotates about said shaft from a lowermost position to accommodate articles falling relative long distances and an uppermost position above the path of said falling articles as said shaft rotates about its axis;

e. chute means connected to said frame for directing said articles into said flexible baffle means when said flexible baffle means is positioned other than in its uppermost position;

f. gate means fixedly connected to said shaft such that said gate means moves to close the chute as said flexible baffle means is moved into its uppermost position whereby the flow of articles from said chute is stopped;

g. a ratchet plate fixedly mounted on said rotatable shaft, said ratchet plate having teeth in its outer periphery;

h. a baffle release rod slidably connected to said frame;

i. a pin integrally connected to said baffle release rod, said pin adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet plate; and

j. resilient means connected to said baffle release rod to bias said pin into contact with said teeth. 

1. A device for retarding the speed of freely falling articles, comprising: a. a frame; b. flexible baffle means connected to said frame, said flexible baffle means adapted to be positioned in the path of the articles and near a storage surface such that the articles will strike said baffle means and drop softly to a storage surface; c. means for adjusting the height of said flexible baffle means as the articles pile up on the storage surface; d. a shaft mounted for rotation in said frame; e. a pair of ratchet plates having teeth in their outer peripheries, each said ratchet plate fixedly connected to one end of said rotatable shaft; f. at least one baffle support arm connected at one end to said flexible baffle means and at the other to one of said ratchet plates whereby said flexible baffle means will be raised and lowered as said shaft rotates about its axis; g. stop means cooperating with said teeth in said ratchet plates to hold said baffle in selected positions; h. chute means connected to said frame, said chute means having a wearing surface over which said articles roll to direct said articles into said flexible baffle means; i. at least one opening in the wearing surface of said chute means; j. a second shaft fixedly mounted between said ratchet plates, said second shaft being spaced from said rotatable shaft; and k. gate means connected to said second shaft, said gate means adapted to extend through the opening in the wearing surface of said chute when said baffle means is in an upward position.
 2. A device for retarding the speed of freely falling articles, comprising: a. a frame; b. flexible baffle means connected to said frame, said flexible baffle means adapted to be positioned in the path of the articles and near a storage surface such that the articles will strike said baffle means and drop softly to a storage surface; c. means for adjusting the height of said flexible baffle means as the articles pile up on the storage surface; d. a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame; e. a ratchet plate having teeth in its outer periphery, said ratchet plate fixedly connected to said rotatable shaft; f. at least one baffle support arm connected at one end to said flexible baffle means and at the other to said ratchet plate whereby said flexible baffle means will be raised and lowered as said shaft rotates about its axis; g. stop means cooperating with said teeth in said ratchet plate to hold said baffle in selected positions; h. chute means connected to said frame, said chute means having a wearing surface over which the articles roll to direct said articles into said flexibLe baffle means; i. at least one opening in the wearing surface of said chute means; j. a second shaft fixedly mounted to said ratchet plate, said second shaft being spaced from said rotatable shaft; and k. gate means connected to said second shaft, said gate means adapted to extend through the opening in the wearing surface of said chute when said baffle means is in an upward position.
 3. A device for retarding the speed of freely falling articles, comprising: a. a frame; b. a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame; c. flexible baffle means adapted to be positioned in the path of the articles and near a storage surface such that the articles will strike said baffle means and drop softly to the storage surface; d. a baffle support arm fixedly connected at one end to said rotatable shaft and at the other end to said flexible baffle means such that said flexible baffle means is spaced from said shaft and rotates about said shaft from a lowermost position to accommodate articles falling relative long distances and an uppermost position above the path of said falling articles as said shaft rotates about its axis; e. chute means connected to said frame for directing said articles into said flexible baffle means when said flexible baffle means is positioned other than in its uppermost position; f. gate means fixedly connected to said shaft such that said gate means moves to close the chute as said flexible baffle means is moved into its uppermost position whereby the flow of articles from said chute is stopped; g. a ratchet plate fixedly mounted on said rotatable shaft, said ratchet plate having teeth in its outer periphery; h. a baffle release rod slidably connected to said frame; i. a pin integrally connected to said baffle release rod, said pin adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet plate; and j. resilient means connected to said baffle release rod to bias said pin into contact with said teeth. 